Ten people were arrested and 6,886 cannabis plants seized as New Zealand police, business ministry and immigration officers dismantled an Auckland drug cultivation and money laundering syndicate run by Vietnamese nationals.[1][2] As part of Operation Beryl, officers executed 53 search warrants across the Waitematā and Counties Manukau districts, finding 42 significant cannabis grows, mostly sophisticated indoor setups in residential properties, plus about 10 kg of packaged cannabis.[1][2] Police put the street value at NZ$16–25 million and said up to NZ$100,000 in cash was also seized.[1][2]

Twelve people face deportation: nine migrants unlawfully in New Zealand and three more to be deported that weekend, with further deportations under investigation.[2] Officers said some syndicate members had come to New Zealand specifically to join organised crime groups, and the inquiry also led to investigations of accredited employers over migrant exploitation.[2] Those arrested were due before the Waitākere, North Shore and Counties Manukau courts in the coming days.[1]